Which Foods And Beverages Are Acidic To The Teeth?

Tag: oral health

Dentists all over the world recommend their patients to stay as much away as possible from certain foods and beverages, because of their acidic nature. The reason is because acidic foods and beverages tend to soften the enamel, thereby making it more prone to decay and erosion. Acidic foods are worse than the food items that stick to the teeth. This is because you can brush and floss them off. However, if you brush and floss right after having something acidic, you might just make things worse for your teeth. To help you keep that bright smile for a little longer, here are acidic foods and beverages that damage your teeth:

1. Foods that Contain Citric Acid:

Who doesn’t like a little bit of lemon juice in a glass of water? Makes for a perfect summer beverage! However, lime and lemon have citric acids, that are known to erode your enamel. Having these too often would do more harm than good to your oral health. It is advised that you rinse your mouth with water immediately after having a glass of lemonade or lime soda, or drink plenty of water if you have a habit of drinking the two beverages on a regular basis. Fruits like oranges, tomatoes, pomelos, tangerines and even grapes are few of the many that have citric acids.

Other fruits that have citric acids in lesser amounts include the following:

Raspberries

Strawberries

Cherries

Pineapple

Cranberries

2. Candies:

Candies contain artificial sweeteners in them, that are highly acidic in nature. Since sugar itself does not have a pH value, it does not alter the acidic or alkaline levels of the liquid with which it is being mixed. The substance used to make artificial sweeteners, which are used in candies are highly acidic, which makes the candies acidic. Therefore, children must not consume candies too often, since their teeth are still in the developmental phase.

3. Sodas and Carbonated Drinks:

Sugary drinks like soda and carbonated soft beverages make your teeth absorb a lot of sugar. This sugar is then used by plaque bacteria to produce acids that are harmful to your teeth. These acids are responsible for weakening your teeth, and eventually eroding it. Sports drinks too are known for having high sugar content. Furthermore, carbonated soft drinks themselves have high acidic levels. “Most carbonated soft drinks, including diet soda, are acidic and therefore, bad for your teeth. Caffeinated beverages, such as colas can also dry out your mouth.” Watch this video showing a popular carbonated drink being used to clean a toilet. Now imagine if that’s what it can do to your toilet, what could it possibly do to your enamel?

Remember, these are just few of the most common foods and beverages that could prove to be acidic to your teeth. There are numerous others. To get a precise overview of what you should stay away from, hand your diet chart to your dentist and he would point out the ones that are the most acidic. You would be shocked to know that even sourdough bread is known to be slightly acidic to your teeth. Hence, you never know how much harm you might do to your teeth, if you do not inspect what you eat and drink!

Fluoride is the mineral that enters our body through our daily intake of foods and water too. Apart from this, how it is essential for your teeth, is what we have discussed in this post.

Fluoride is a chemical ion of the element fluorine, which one of the top 20 abundant elements on earth. An ion is a positively- or negatively-charged atom that helps elements combine with one another. Fluorine is negatively charged. Therefore, when fluoride meets a positively-charged ion like sodium, it effectively aids in fighting cavities.

Hence, fluoride components present inside the mouth, not only makes the teeth stronger, but also keeps your oral cavity clean and hygienic.

So how does fluoride help combat cavities?

The outer covering of our teeth is the tooth enamel, which is even stronger than bones that are made from calcium! When we consume sugary foods like candies, juices etc. they turn acidic inside the mouth as bacteria is able to feast on the carbohydrates that are present in this food. This is responsible for producing the acid which attacks the teeth enamel, leaving the tooth susceptible to decay and cavities.

Since our saliva contains calcium and phosphate, it restores the elements to your teeth, thus protecting them. Here fluoride steps in. Entering the oral cavity from sources like eatables or the toothpaste, it combines with the calcium and phosphate forming fluoroapatite. This creates the best possible defense against cavity-causing bacteria inside your mouth.

Foods that contain fluoride naturally

Tea and coffee

Water and in foods cooked in that water

Foods like potatoes, grapes and shrimps

fish eaten with their bones

infant formula

This list would show you the common sources of dietary fluoride. Nevertheless, fluoride treatments become necessary, when optimal levels are not ingested and your teeth need that extra care! The ADA (American Dental Association) recommends a fluoride treatment at your dentist’s office every 3, 6 or 12 months depending upon the condition of your oral health. A dentist visit would therefore lend you information about the adequate levels of fluoride required for your teeth health.

What apart from toothpaste, natural foods and water can add fluoride to your teeth?

Professional fluoride treatments are provided by dentists in the form of:

Highly Concentrated Rinse,

Gels

Varnishes or

A Foam.

Ways to get fluoride for your teeth

To apply the treatment your dentist uses a tray, a mouthwash, a swab or a brush. These treatments are availed because they have a much higher concentration of fluoride than that present in the other natural sources or even your toothpaste! They take only a few minutes to apply, you are simply asked to avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes after the treatment and that’s it. The fluoride then gets fully absorbed. At home, one may use a fluoride toothpaste that comes with an ADA seal. It ensures that your paste has the right amount of fluoride needed for your teeth.

Are you searching for a local dentist near you? We always encourage our patients to make an appointment at Arcade Dental to make sure your oral health is given the attention it deserves. Call @ (956) 391-2129 to book your dental appointment or visit our office at Pharr today.

At Arcade Dental, we want every resident of Pharr to have healthy, straight and beautiful smiles. If your teeth are crooked, misaligned or severely gapped, then our Six Month Braces are a perfect fit for you. Perfecting teeth early on is a great way to ensure your oral health remains pristine. This is why we encourage parents to get their kids braces (but only when it is necessary).

Braces for kids have become a major part of American life. In fact, about 75 percent of all braces wearers are kids and teenagers. But are parents buying kids braces just for the fun of it? Highly doubtful. Here are some of the primary reasons why parents are buying braces for their kids:

HEALTHY TEETH – This is the primary reason we encourage parents to get their kids braces. Straightening and aligning teeth ensures that plaque has a much more difficult time building up. Food particles, which turn into plaque, can’t really hide between teeth or in hard to reach places. Misaligned, gapped, and crooked teeth allow plaque to hide from the toothbrush, which then creates cavities. In other words, braces help in a big way to keep cavities from forming.

CONFIDENCE – Every kid needs to be able to walk into school, the movie theatre, or wherever a social gathering is taking place and be able to smile freely. For some kids, they are not happy with their smile, which really hinders their level of confidence. A beautiful smile can help improve a child’s social engagement. This can also lead them to be more apt to take on leadership roles, which helps them in the long run when they hit college and career. In the long term, as well as the short term, braces can really change a child’s life.

GET YOUR KIDS BRACES TODAY!

Our Pharr dental clinic is always ready to help parents make the right choice when it comes to their child’s oral health. Our kids dentists answer all questions and concerns posed by parents and by children. If you or your child needs braces, then contact our dental office today and schedule your Six Month Braces appointment.

At our Pharr dentist office, our kids dentists understand the importance of keeping your children’s teeth strong and healthy. Kids who start off on the right foot with their teeth, typically end up maintaining proper oral health throughout their lifetime.

Our dentists ensure that every patient—young and old—is educated on how to properly maintain their teeth. Healthy teeth help promote overall health in the body. Poor oral health has been found to be connected to several life-threatening and debilitating diseases, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Our goal is to make sure all of our patients avoid these issues by keeping their teeth clean.

MAINTAINING PROPER ORAL HEALTH

As far as oral health goes, it’s best to start early. Here are just some of the ways we encourage our patients to stay healthy:

BRUSHING – This may come across like a no-brainer, but there are plenty of people who don’t brush properly or don’t brush enough. Brushing teeth should be done twice per day—once in the morning and once before going to bed. Brushing should take no less than two minutes. This ensures that as much plaque as possible is removed.

FLOSSING – Flossing is a pretty popular mode of dental upkeep, but it’s surprising how many people simply do not floss their teeth. Flossing helps removes food particles and plaque from between and around teeth. Floss reaches where the toothbrush bristles can’t. Flossing also helps stave off periodontal disease (gum disease) by strengthening the gums. We recommend flossing once per day.

RINSING – There are various types of antiseptic mouthwashes out there. Regardless of which you choose, try to be consistent with it. After brushing and flossing, conduct a thorough rinse to remove any remaining plaque or bacteria that is left behind.

DENTAL CLEANINGS – The three aforementioned steps are incredibly important, but so is this fourth step. At Arcade Dental, our kids dentists and general dentists recommend conducting dental cleanings every six months. This allows our dentists to get rid of hard to remove plaque buildup that can cause cavities and gum disease. We are also able to identify any immediate or possible issues, such as cavities, in the mouth and can correct them during the appointment.

SCHEDULE YOUR KIDS DENTAL CLEANING TODAY

How long has it been since you or your child has had a dental cleaning? If it’s been more than six months, then it is time to schedule a cleaning. Contact our Pharr dental office today and schedule your appointment.

If you’ve recently had a dental cleaning, then be certain to continue brushing, flossing and rinsing regularly.

Cavities are the leading problem with kids dental health. Due to a lack of brushing and flossing or doing either of them effectively, cavities can easily produce. At Arcade Dental, our kids dentist provide dental sealants to combat against the spread of cavities.

Dental sealants are placed on the molars as protective coverings to help stave off plaque buildup. These help tremendously when going hours without brushing or rinsing teeth, or if a child forgets to brush their teeth in the morning or before going to bed.

These do not, however, take the place of brushing and flossing, but are simply used to help keep the teeth strong and safe from cavities.

HOW DO CAVITIES TAKE PLACE?

Cavities take place when food particles and sugars are not brushed and flossed away. When they are left to sit on and around teeth, they turn into plaque, which begins to eat away at the enamel. The enamel is the natural protective covering that keeps plaque from creating cavities. If the plaque isn’t removed, however, once it eats away at the enamel, it can begin to create cavities.

This is why it is very important that kids, and everyone else, brush their teeth twice per day, flosses every day and undergoes a thorough dental cleaning every six months.

DENTAL SEALANTS: THE SECOND ENAMEL

Dental sealants can be considered as the second enamel covering. In much the same way, the teeth with dental sealants must be brushed thoroughly as well. Also to note, these dental sealants do not last a lifetime. In fact, these sealants typically last only about two years. Therefore, these dental coverings should be replaced every couple of years.

This inexpensive procedure is much less intrusive and expensive than dealing with real dental procedures, like dental fillings, dental crowns, root canals, or dental implants. Our kids dentists at Arcade Dental encourage every patient to consider this fact.

GET YOUR DENTAL SEALANTS TODAY

If you are looking for ways to ensure you don’t get cavities, then you should consider getting dental sealants. Schedule your dental appointment today at our Pharr dentist office and find out all you need to know about dental sealants for you and your family. Our dental staff is looking forward to keeping your smile safe and beautiful.

At Arcade Dental, kids dental health is incredibly important. Our dentists and dental staff consistently educate our young patients on the importance of maintaining great oral hygiene. Too often, kids don’t really understand how to take care of their teeth or don’t take the time to take care of their teeth properly. One of our primary initiatives is oral hygiene education.

Kids must understand that they need to brush their teeth twice per day, floss every day, and start rinsing once they get a little older, preferably once they are seven and older.

ALARMING FACTS ABOUT DENTAL HEALTH

Not everyone takes care of their teeth. In fact, even those who think they are conducting proper dental maintenance actually are a little short of reaching their goal. Here are some recent stats that show people aren’t taking care of their teeth properly, and this directly affects children because they learn from adults:

37% do not visit the dentist every year. It is recommended that everyone see the dentist once every six months.

A quarter of the population do not brush their teeth twice per day. This is imperative to good oral health.

A third of the population have never flossed before. Not flossing invites plaque buildup, tooth decay, gum disease, and other issues.

60% to 90% of schoolchildren have cavities. This can be resolved by brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist every six months. Dental sealants are also a great way to keep cavities away.

Nearly 50% of the population older than 30 suffer from some level of periodontal disease (gum disease). Flossing and brushing regularly will eliminate the possibility of gum disease.

Take it from us at Arcade Dental, it doesn’t take much to keep teeth clean. So be certain to teach your kids the importance of maintaining pristine oral health. It’s a lot harder and more expensive to take care of teeth after not maintaining them properly.

Contact our Pharr dental office today to schedule you and your family’s dental check up. Remember, kids get to play video games and watch movies before every appointment. We look forward to providing you and your family with great oral care.